Objective
Transposons are parasitic DNA elements that when activated can insert into new genomic locations, leading to genome
instability. Animal germlines express a special class of small RNAs called piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) which are
implicated in transposon silencing. In mammals, they are believed to promote DNA methylation of transposon-rich genomic
regions. Mechanisms of piRNA biogenesis and function are only beginning to be understood. Sequence analysis of piRNAs
from a variety of organisms has given rise to working models for piRNA biogenesis and how piRNAs might act as guides
for nuclear silencing complexes. However, key components of the pathway, especially those for biogenesis and function,
remain to be discovered. Our aim is to identify and characterize new components using a combination of biochemistry, mouse
genetics and small RNA bioinformatics. The regulatory potential of posttranslational modification of piwi proteins and their
recognition by tudor proteins will be examined. Mouse mutants will be used to study the in vivo role of catalytic activity of
piwi proteins in piRNA biogenesis and identify putative targets by transcriptomics approaches. Integrated biochemical and
deep-sequencing methods will be applied to understand how small RNAs might guide nulcear silencing machinery to target
locations. Finally, in a field that is dependent on model organisms, we propose to develop a cell culture system to study the
piRNA pathway and carry out a high-throughput functional RNAi screen for component discovery. This proposal aims to
use interdisciplinary approaches in uncovering the biochemical framework in which germline small RNAs function to protect
eukaryotic genomes.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
- natural sciences biological sciences zoology mammalogy
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes eukaryotic genomes
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
ERC-2010-StG_20091118
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Host institution
69117 Heidelberg
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.